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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – A Buffalo mother who claims she killed her little boy “to save him from going to hell” faced a judge Wednesday morning.

Jessica Murphy didn’t show much emotion in court. She stood quietly as her attorney entered a not guilty plea on her behalf and asked for a competency examination.

Erie County District Attorney James Bargnesi said, “That will be an examination with a physician and then we’ll go from there after his report is issued.”

Documents from the DA’s Office state Murphy strangled and/or stabbed her 8-year-old son, Jacob Noe, to death last month in their North Buffalo home. Many who loved Jacob gathered at Cazenovia Park recently and held a vigil for him.

Family friend Krystal Vidal said, “Jacob was just such a joy to know and be around. He was always trying to make people smile. He was so energetic, so playful. And we’re just going to miss him very much.”

Now that Jacob is gone, many are trying to piece together how this could happen. Murphy’s family told News 4 that she suffers from mental disorders.

The 29-year-old was being investigated by Child Protective Services at the time of the murder. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says the caseworker that was on the case prior to Jacob’s death was suspended.

A News 4 source says the suspended employee’s co-workers were supposed to help, but they were so busy with their own cases they couldn’t monitor the mother.

Erie County Legislator Lynne Dixon (R) said, “There have been five deaths over the past four years, there have been 33 disciplinary actions as a result, five firings, nine suspensions and still we have issues.”

Some county legislators were even calling for the resignation of Erie County’s Social Services Commissioner. Instead, the legislature approved the hiring of 37 new CPS employees last week.